Trump confronts S-African president with ‘white genocide’
(MENAFN) During a meeting at the White House on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with allegations of violence and discrimination against white farmers, a topic that took center stage despite the meeting’s original focus on trade and bilateral relations.
The shift occurred after a journalist questioned Trump about what would convince him that there is no “white genocide” in South Africa. Ramaphosa urged openness to different perspectives, prompting Trump to say, “We have thousands of stories talking about it,” before instructing staff to dim the lights and play a five-minute video montage. The footage featured inflammatory statements by South African opposition figures and images claiming to show graves of white farmers.
Trump then showed a collection of printed articles, flipping through pages and remarking on repeated themes of death and violence. He alleged a targeted campaign against white farmers and claimed people were fleeing South Africa for safety.
President Ramaphosa responded by asserting that South Africa is a diverse democracy where crime impacts all communities equally, regardless of race. He also clarified that the individuals shown in the video were not members of his government and that the video did not reflect official policy.
Trump further claimed that South Africa’s land reform policies allow for the confiscation of land and have driven Afrikaners to seek asylum. He pledged to accelerate U.S. naturalization for white South Africans, calling them victims of a “genocide.”
Tensions between the U.S. and South Africa have intensified since Trump’s return to office. Washington has criticized Pretoria’s land policies as discriminatory, while South Africa insists they are meant to correct historic injustices. Relations worsened in March when Trump cut U.S. federal aid to South Africa and expelled its ambassador after South Africa filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Despite the tense exchange, Ramaphosa later said the meeting “went very well,” emphasizing the need for continued dialogue and cooperation.
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